ChristmasThe real storySusan Tomory

It is only a few days from Christmas, in our year of 2011. Maybe too close to explain the real story behind everything we are trying to celebrate in the Western world under this title, but these stories deal a lot more with Santa and his sleigh, than the birth of Christ. It is very hard to explain to the children the omnipresent Santa, and the origin of his deer-drawn sleigh was already taken over by commercialism. The story is so materialistic, so confusing that parents have great difficulties in explaining these to their children and delegate it into the realm of „must tell”, as is the story of „where did I come from”, to which no parent looks forward...

Any story which was taken over from another culture, eventually will suffer from the loss of roots and fall to the wayside. The Santa dominated Christmas story is well on its way, and taken over by „black Sundays”, and counting the shopping days. But the real Christmas story is so ancient, it can wait and show its treasures, when the time is right... Right for listening without prejudice and accepting ideas that may benefit and enrich the listeners’ culture.

Believe it or not, the story of Santa began in Central Europe’s Hungary, by her people called Magyar. This name means people of the seed (mag in Magyar). Everything that gave life was considered a mag, a seed, and so the Sun too was called Mag, or Miklós, which name became St. Nick in English. The golden Sun gave life to all on this Earth, and everything that serves life. So he gave the present of life and light to all, good or bad, young or old, poor or rich in equal measures. This Mag (seed and son) was known by the Scottish people too, who still call themselves by this name: Mac...(Arthur, etc.)

The Sun is strongest during the time of the Summer solstice, and from then on he seemes to become weaker and weaker. The days grow shorter as the calendar approaches December and the Sun appeares more and more red as he dips beneath the horizon. As the days grow colder, he donnes a nice cap made from clouds, his white beard is of fresh snow. He spreads his red mantle over the meadows, covered by snow, and snow trimmed his red mantle. As he weakens he shows all the treasures he leaves behind: fruits, and vegetables, sweets and all the goodies of this earth. People of old began to call him the Old Miklós, Old Nick and knew that he is going to depart pretty soon, on the day of the Winter Solstice. That was the day of death for Old Nick, but soon to be reborn as a glorious babe the next morning!

On the evening of his departure his helper brought him down from high heaven among the people to distribute his presents, the fruits of his light and the labor of the people. And who was his helper? The Miracle Stag, who carried all the stars of heaven on his antlers and his fur, the moon on his chest, the morning star on his forehead, and between his antlers he carried our Sun. As he arrived, the Miracle Stag sang:

Ocean of the Universe is in boundless motionWhispering legends of God’s creation.Always new songs ever changingAlways old songs everlasting.

Their thousand flames are the stars of heavenThey shine unlit, go out on their own... (folk poetry)By Adorján Magyar

By the time the Miracle Stag reached the Earth, the Sun was reborn and he carried the Babe sun in a tiny cradle between his antlers... Proudly the Miracle Stag showed everyone the Newborn Sun and the treasures he gave last year to all the people.

By Adorján Magyar

This ancient legend is replayed in Magyar towns every Christmas, which is also the ancient New Year, the day of the Winter Solstice: a player takes on the role of the Miracle stag as is seen on the above picture. A red lampion between his antlers is the Baby Sun’s cradle. Tiny bells represent the word of conscience. There are also candies and goodies on the Miracle Stag’s antlers to give them to the children.

The story of the Miracle Stag is very ancient. His first image was found in a cave drawing thousands of years old. It shows a man dressed as Miracle Stag as he is about to fly to reach the Sun. Another 12,000 year old cave drawing shows the Birth of Life at the foot of the Miracle Stag. (Found in Laugerie Basse known as La Femme au Renne.)

There would not be a Christmas without a Christmas Tree. In the Magyar language the fir tree, of which Christmas trees are made is called fenyő, which is the tree of light (fény). Its branches reach the world of the stars which settle there to bring beauty and light to the people. It is the Tree of Light, the Tree of Shine, the Tree of Life. Often the antlers of the Miracle Stag took on the role of this Holy Tree, since they too carried millions of stars on their tips.

And the Holy Family of Betlehem?

It represents the birth of Light and Life at the time of Creation. When Great God – also called eternal, or old God -- announced his coming, a flash of light illuminated the sleeping Mother of Life. At the gentle touch of God’s light she awakened to fulfill her role as the Mother of Life. She is called the Great Mother (anya) of matter (anyag), of Light.

And the stable in Betlehem?

The Milky way in Magyar legends has many names. One of them is „the road strewn by straw” (szalmahullajtó út), since when the motion of stars is observed through a long time, they appear as strands of shiny straw. Present day non-magyar legends also try to come to terms with whether Jesus was born in a manger or a cave? – This is due to a peculiarity of the Jász-Magyar language, where jászó is a cave and jászol a manger... We know that the Miracle Stag, Stag of Shine brought the sun from the stellar nursery, -- which is a dark cloud – so the ”cave” would be the more appropriate image.

The Christmas Eve in Betlehem is a step-by-step image of ancient Creation. The Mother of the Holy family is the Great Madonna, who gave and gives birth to the Universe. The Babe is the newborn Light and Life. The story also insists on showing Joseph as an old man. He represents the eternal, the Old God: since he is eternal, he must be old! The birth of the Universe and life is repeated ever since in every new birth here on Earth. The image of the Old God is based upon a word play in the Magyar language: eternal=örök, old=öreg. Hence the images of an old, bearded human figure replacing God in many church representations.

To make this image less obvious, the Roman Catholic church divided the story of old Miklós, Old Nick – and his rebirth, adding different stories to each.

But the story of „Santa”, the „reindeer” (Miracle stag) goes back to ancient times, to the birth of Light and Life. And this drama played and plays out among the stars, for everyone to see. All you have to do is to look at the sky...*